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Topic: Barcus Berry amp, info wanted |
Bas Kapitein
From:
Holland
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Posted 26 May 2012 5:49 am |
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Hi there
Has anyone any experience with the Barcus Berry 1720 amp.
It is a solid state amp from the late seventies. Complicated EQ; 2x bass, 2x treble, 1middle + 1 middle shift, tremolo(modulator), springreverb
Only 1 input. 2x 10” jensen? Speakers. Very clean sound.
The complicated EQ led me to believe that it would be Ideal for steel.
The sparse info on the net suggests that it was desinged by Bob Crooks (Standel)
As far as I could find only one forum member has mentioned that he owned one.
It is for sale here in Europe for 100 euros. Seems like a great deal. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 26 May 2012 9:46 am
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I haven't owned one, and haven't seen one in forever.
I recall them as good sounding, and you can't quibble on the price.
If you don't like it, it should sell right back
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 27 May 2012 3:03 am
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Hey Bas, I owned one for about 8 or 9 years. Mine was the model with two 12" speakers and was a very good amp. Mine had two separate channels with matching EQ's and had a small toggle with which I could switch the reverb and tremolo to either or both channels. I don't remember the wattage but it was more than enough to play a large club. Mine also had an onboard distortion switch. As for Bob Crooks, he did design them. I used to live close to their facility and hung out with Bob a bit back in the day. He actually changed out the speakers in mine for JBL's when I blew one of the stock speakers and that really made the amp come alive. I don't remember why I sold it but I did after I'd moved to Virginia in the middle eighties. I did remove the JBL speakers though and put them in two Fender amps I had, one being a Fender Stage Lead 1-12 and a Fender all tube 1-12 amp, can't remember the model number right now. The model you're looking at seems like it would be OK but I'm not too sure about the two 10" speaker configuration. I don't think that'd be too good for steel guitar, maybe lap steel but I don't know about pedal steel...........JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 27 May 2012 3:12 am
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2 10s should be more than adequate for an E9 guitar, since there's less bottom than a guitar.
I dunno if I push the lower strings of C6 or Bb6 that dang hard, but you never know.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Bas Kapitein
From:
Holland
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Posted 27 May 2012 1:31 pm
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Thanks for reacting,
You are right lane, I am going to see the seller tomorrow with this price I can hardly go wrong.
And Jerry , if it is a two channel amp that would explain two bass and two treble controls, but there is only one input.
I post a picture as soon as I can and see if we are discussing the same amp here |
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Bas Kapitein
From:
Holland
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Posted 28 May 2012 4:52 am
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First impression:For a 35-year old amp it looks brand new, the pots d'ont crack, it seems hardly used. The tone from my strat is clean and more spicey than I would have guessed from an acoustic amp. The steel is sounding way thinner, but my previous amp was a session 500, so I guess everything would be thinner. The good news is that it is half the weight of the session.
I haven't figuered out the working of the EQ yet, I could really do with a manual. The cabinet fits a single 12" but not a single 15". So improving on the speaker side would involve splitting up the unit into an amp and a speaker section
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